Author(s): Julia Owen

New Zealand titles - children

There are two sides to 14-year-old Shawny and the dark one is turning her into someone not even she wants to know. With her mother in a "mental hospital" (pruning the hedge naked one day was the clincher) and being taunted about it mercilessly at school, Shawny is hurt and confused, and turns to theft for her vengeance. What begins as petty shoplifting, gives her such an adrenaline rush that, though she knows it is wrong, she can't stop herself.... This is a pacy, but not difficult, read for ages 12 to 15.